Sermons on Empty Praise:

How Can Our Church Survive And Thrive?

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 17, 2011

1. By spreading the good news about Jesus (vs. 36-41). 2. By studying God’s Word (vs. 42). 3. By seeking more reverence for God (vs. 43). 4. By sticking together (vs. 44-46). 5. By sharing what God has given to us (vs. 42-47).

How Can Our Church Survive and Thrive? Acts 2:36-47 Sermon by Rick Crandall Adapted from message preached at McClendon Baptist Church - Sept. 5, 2010 BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION: *Over the last few years, at least four Southern Baptist Churches around here have shut their doors forever. Five to ten ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:36-47

Denomination: Baptist

Pass, Shoot, Score Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 26, 2012

A great basketball player knows where the goal is at and continually practices until his body instinctively know how to put the basket through the hoop. Knowing where the goal is important in any sport... and it’s important in Christianity as well.

OPEN: We opened with a youtube video that highlighted the basketball career of Bill Bradley. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_BJg4rhFNs (24 second begin… 3:25 end) In 1964, Bill Bradley was captain of the Olympic Basketball team that won gold at Tokyo. In 1965, his senior year at Princeton he ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Joy In Christ

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Aug 17, 2024

Looking at Joy from Isaiah 55

Joy in Christ Isaiah 55:1-7 August 18, 2024 This is our 3rd week talking about joy. Next Sunday I kinda sorta promise that we will finish talking about joy. Actually, I’m not really sure if I will or not, because I’m not sure what I’m going to read, study, or how God is going to lead me next ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-3, John 6:35

Denomination: Baptist

Living With Lament Series

Contributed by David Owens on Sep 21, 2020

In this last sermon of the series on grief and lament, we explore and engage in how to live with lament. How to employ it with cases of overwhelming grief, and with cases of everyday, minor grief. The sermon ends with two examples of lament prayers.

A. Back in May, during our series about hope, I opened a sermon with a story that I want to use again today as our launching point. 1. One afternoon, a man came home from work to find two young girls from the neighborhood on the steps of his building. 2. Both girls were crying very loudly, and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 25:1-5, Romans 12:15, 1 Corinthians 12:26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Will Versus Our Will

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Jan 25, 2021

Do we have ANY choice or is every aspect of our lives already been predetermined by God? Does God choose us even if we don’t want Him to? Does God choose some people but not others? How can you know what God’s will and purposes are?

Today I want to talk about God’s Will vs. Our Will. We are taught from the Bible that God gives us a free will. It is ours to choose. Sometimes what we choose is good and in the will of God, and other times what we choose is dead wrong. Maybe this message will answer a few of your questions. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:4-6, Romans 11:33-36, Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Celebrate What God Has Done Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Aug 25, 2024

He is faithful. He is faithful for the future just as much as he has been in the past. Trust Him for the road ahead. Though it seems so very uncertain, God is trustworthy, our part is to hold on tight as God begins to do a new thing in our lives. The future is bright.

There was once a great and mighty citadel of the faith. It’s members were many, it’s band large, it’s youth growing in the faith, it’s members organized and energized, it’s outreach far and wide, it’s services many and multiplied, and it’s reputation, as one of the premier citadels of the mighty ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:12-14, Acts 1:9-11

Denomination: Salvation Army

Freedom From Words That Kill, Prt 2 Series

Contributed by David Flowers on Feb 4, 2010

Part 4 in series, “Freedom From…” this message examines six things that can be done to deal with our tendency to use words in destructive ways.

Freedom From Words That Kill, prt. 2 Freedom From... Wildwind Community Church David Flowers September 20, 2009 Last week we talked about words that kill. I divided words that kill up into two categories -- angry words, and empty words. Do you remember what I told you these two categories of ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-20

Denomination: Free Methodist

Living Pure In An Impure World

Contributed by Eddie Snipes on Oct 18, 2000

We live in a culture that attempts to pull us contrary to our life in Christ. This sermon examines some helps to maintain a holy focus.

Living Pure in an Impure World Psalm 119:9-11 9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You! I have ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:9-11, 1 Peter 1:3-9

Denomination: Baptist

The Way Up Is Down - Part 1 Of 8 Series

Contributed by Guy De Swardt on Apr 1, 2010

The first part of eight on the Beattitudes.

The Perfect Standard For Life The Way Up Is Down – Part 1 of 8 Reading: Matthew 5v1-3 Jesus’ sermon on the mount is so powerful that we can hardly overstate it’s influence in lives of so many people. It is simply the greatest sermon ever preached, because it came from the very ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Joy Is Coming Soon, I Promise Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jul 6, 2020

God doesn't promise a sorrow-free life, but God does promise that joy will come. Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

A. I’m sure that many of us are familiar with the musical Annie, about the optimistic red-headed orphaned girl named Annie, who is eventually adopted by a billionaire. 1. Before the happy ending comes, Annie and the other girls at the orphanage endure the abuse of Miss Hannigan, the drunken owner ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 30:5, John 20:1-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Swimming Upstream Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Aug 17, 2022

In this message we will discuss... why we should swim upstream (and live lives that are different than the world around us) and we will also look at some practical steps we can take that will make swimming upstream possible.

Swimming Upstream Living-Hope (part 4) Video – Be The Church “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:2, Deuteronomy 18:19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Start At Mizpah, End At Ebenezer

Contributed by David Dunn on Dec 10, 2025

New Years Sermon. Start at Mizpah with surrender and you will end at Ebenezer with testimony — the God who meets your return will become your help.

A new year always greets us like a doorway — one side opening toward the unknown, the other side framed by everything we’ve lived through to get here. We step into January with a mixture of hope and hesitation, expectation and reflection. It’s human nature to look forward and backward at the same ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:2

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Faith In God PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 28, 2025

God’s faithfulness endures through our doubts, fears, and failures; He calls us to trust, obey, and pray as He fulfills His promises in our lives.

Some of us walked in today with silent rooms at home and silent prayers in our hearts. Some carry questions that keep us awake at night. Some feel like the calendar keeps turning while the promise still tarries. If that’s you, welcome. You’re in good company with a man and a woman who learned what ...read more

Topics: Sarah's Roots, Life Journey

The Fragrance Of Love Series

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Apr 4, 2025

Is our worship "bland blah-de-blah" or "love untamed, worship unashamed"

If you enter St Barnabas Church in Jehricho North Oxford you may be struck by the beautiful cut-glass mural on the left (north) side of the nave. It depicts many important saints, martyrs and angels of the Christian tradition, with the words of the Te Deum Laudamus underneath. It is absolutely ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-8, Isaiah 43:16-21, Genesis 28:17

Denomination: Anglican

Now You See Me, Now You Don’t Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Jul 31, 2016

A study of the book of Job 23: 1 – 17

Job 23: 1 – 17 Now You See Me, Now You Don’t 1 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Even today my complaint is bitter; My hand is listless because of my groaning. 3 Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come to His seat! 4 I would present my case before Him, and fill my ...read more

Scripture: Job 23:1-17

Denomination: Calvary Chapel